George Balanchine Quotes

I don't do drugs, and so music very much gets me going. When I do something, I think, "If it was a piece of music, what would it be?"

When I hear a great new record, especially when it's by someone that I respect and admire, then a part of me is like, Why didn't I think of that? Why didn't I write that record? It makes you sick, but in a way it can be a great thing. It makes you want to go back to the lab and start writing again. Maybe it will inspire you to try a little harder.

I only write when listening to the music.

I always listen to a lot of different music when I am working on a project.

My brother was very important to me. And he played guitar. So that's what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a guitar player. So he was the first one to inspire me to do something with my life. And I was so glad that he was there.

Sometimes a chord on a guitar will somehow spur some thought in your head, and you will write a song about it.

I believe that tracks speak to me. Some tracks make me write certain music or make me feel sad or inspire me to write a sad love song. Each track has its feeling to me.

As a kid, looking at Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, New Edition, the Temptations, Motown, people who I felt were huge artists, they made me wanna do something.

There's music every day. I don't think I could write without it. Not that I listen while I'm writing. It's more hearing a piece of music that I want to somehow convert into prose, as a creative inspiration.

When I hear a beat that makes me want to tell a story, then that's what I'm going to say.

I have been a huge, huge fan of music ever since I was a kid. Anything to do with music inspires me.

Beats are really inspiring. They always make me want to write something over them.

For me, Surya's 'Varanam Ayiram' is a big inspiration.

I'm scared to give gratitude to the people that, if I hadn't heard their stuff, I wouldn't be able to make music.

I love Pink, and I love Christina Aguilera. Something about Christina always inspires me to do things that are really different.

How did I write 'Spin Me?' I listened to Luther Vandross's 'I Wanted Your Love.'

When I was nine, I was passing by a drum class and saw them playing and I was moved. That's why I started making music.

Growing up, I was so involved in music in different ways, be it taking piano lessons or guitar lessons. As a listener, I was always so inspired.

I love listening a lot and I listen to all sorts of songs, old and new. But the real inspiration has to come from within.

Motivation is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, inspiration is the reverse. An idea gets hold of you and carries you where you are intended to go.

It was very interesting time to be in England. Even at that point [John] Lennon and [Paul] McCartney influenced my writing. I thought, "maybe there is a huck or two in here I haven't thought of".

Writing more and more to the sound of music, writing more and more like music. Sitting in my studio tonight, playing record after record, writing, music a stimulant of the highest order, far more potent than wine.

Passion will move men beyond themselves, beyond their shortcomings, beyond their failures.

A man of talent will strive for money and reputation; but the spring that moves genius to the production of its works is not as easy to name

When you know what a man wants you know who he is, and how to move him.